gunboats, a vast procession extending miles along the winding
river, each boat with its pillar of smoke by day, and of fire by night.
The fleet began arriving at Savannah on the 11th, and lined both shores
of the river. Lewis Wallace's division sent a party to the railroad west
of the river, striking it at Purdy, tearing up a portion, but doing no
permanent injury, and returned. On the 14th, General Smith sent
Sherman's division up the river to strike the railroad near Eastport.
Rain fell in torrents, roads melted into mud, and small streams rose
with dangerous rapidity. The expedition, arrested by an unfordable
torrent, returned just in time to reach the landing by wading through
water waist-deep. The boats left in the night of the 15th, and stopped
at Pittsburg Landing, on the west bank of the river, about nine miles
above Savannah. Hurlbut's division was already on boats at this landing,
having been ordered thither by General C.F. Smith on the evening of the
14th.

The first step in the programme laid down in General Halleck's order of
March 1st, the destruction of the railroad near Eastport, had failed,
and events had now required a material change in the programme. General
Buell on March 3d telegraphed to Halleck: "What can I do to aid your
operations against Columbus?" Halleck, replying next day that Columbus
was evacuated and destroyed, added: "Why not come to the Tennessee and
operate with me to cut Johnston's line with Memphis, Randolph, and New
Madrid.... Estimated strength of enemy at New Madrid, Randolph and
Memphis is fifty thousand. It is of vital importance to separate them
from Johnston's army. Come over to Savannah or Florence, and we can do
it. We can then operate on Decatur or Memphis, or both, as may appear
best." Buell rejoined on the 5th: "The thing I think of vital importance
is that you seize and hold the bridge at Florence in force." On the 6th
Halleck telegraphed: "News down the Tennessee that Beauregard has
twenty thousand men at Corinth, and is rapidly fortifying it. Smith will
probably not be strong enough to attack it. It is a great misfortune to
lose that point. I shall reinforce Smith as rapidly as possible. If you
can send a division by water around into the Tennessee, it would require
only a small amount of transportation to do it." To this Buell
telegraphed on the 9th, insisting on his suggestions made on the 5th.
Halleck dispatched on the 10th: "My forces are moving up the Tennessee